Agnesian to share info. Nat'l. Decision Day

Agnesian to share important information on National Healthcare Decisions Day

It's nearing that time of year again! Agnesian HealthCare is once again participating in the sixth annual National Healthcare Decisions Day on Tuesday, April 16 to help highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making.

As a result, Agnesian HealthCare is providing information and tools for the public to talk about their wishes with family, friends and healthcare providers, and execute written advance directives (healthcare power of attorney and living will) in accordance with Wisconsin state laws. These resources are available at agnesian.com under Patient & Visitor Resources.

Specifically, on Monday, April 15 and Wednesday, April 17, Ripon Medical Center - as a member of Agnesian HealthCare - is welcoming the public from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. in Central Admitting, providing free information about advance care planning and advance directive forms.

St. Agnes Hospital and Waupun Memorial Hospital will offer the same service; interested individuals can stop by the information desk at both locations and ask for a social worker.

Anyone over the age of 18 is strongly encouraged to stop by to pick up and complete the Power of Attorney for Healthcare document on these days.

"As a result of assistance provided on National Healthcare Decisions Day, many more people in our community can be expected to have thoughtful conversations about their healthcare decisions and complete reliable advance directives to make their wishes known," says Dan Blaha, Agnesian HealthCare director of Care Transitions.

"Fewer families and healthcare providers will have to struggle with making difficult healthcare decisions in the absence of guidance from the patient. Healthcare providers and facilities will be better equipped to address decision making issues before a crisis and be better able to honor patient wishes at all times and in all settings," Blaha adds.

A Power of Attorney for Healthcare, one form of advance directive, is a free document that anyone over the age of 18 is encouraged to complete. This document allows individuals to appoint a healthcare "agent" to speak for them if they were not able to speak for themselves. It can be noted that while this agent is appointed to make healthcare decisions for a particular individual, it does not allow them or give them any authority to make their financial or other business decisions for them.